Cops blocking bike lanes to get their coffee and lunch are indicative of a city learning to cope with new bike lanes, according to Toronto Police’s political masters.

But that’s no excuse for endangering cyclists, said Councillor Pam McConnell who is vice-chairman of the police services board.

Officers, she said, are held to a higher standard than other motorists and must follow the rules like everyone else.

“There are no laws that are for the average citizen that are not for the officers. It is quite the opposite,” she said yesterday. “The city is very much growing up in terms of its understanding of different modes of transportation.

“I think that it is a wake-up call for all of our division commanders to be talking to their officers about this (bike lane) priority of the board … and the importance of not only enforcing the law, but adhering to the law and modelling the law.”

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“I think police merit special consideration,” said Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker, who cycles to City Hall from Scarborough most days. “Yes, he (the officer) shouldn’t have done that, and if it was a member of the public, I’d say yes, that member of the public should get a ticket, but I would make an exception for the police.”

Councillor Adrian Heaps, who heads up the city’s cycling advisory committee, said the issue of cops blocking bike lanes for personal use is, “a fine line.”

“People would be the first to complain that the police didn’t answer a call because they’re walking down the street to their car,” he said.